Chapter 2

Alanza’s POV

“You will be attending the Lunar Gala this year. I trust you have enough money from your… job to be properly dressed for the occasion.”

The dark eyes tracked me from the tree line. Unblinking. Unwavering.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

My hands shook as I cranked the key again. The engine sputtered, then coughed. Please. Please start. I gripped the wheel until my knuckles turned white. I was not dying here. Not tonight.

Another turn. A sick whine. A sputter.

The wolf stepped fully from the shadows. It was massive, a specter of dark rage. Its fur was black, melting into the night around it. I couldn’t see any distinguishing marks. No way to know which pack bully had decided to hunt me.

The engine caught. A sudden, glorious roar.

I slammed my foot onto the gas. The tires screeched, biting the pavement as I spun down the road. My heart hammered, a frantic drum against my ribs.

I glanced in the side mirror. The wolf was a dark blur, keeping pace with the car on the winding streets.

He let out a long, chilling howl. A promise of pain to come.

It was the same sick game. Always. I hated the waiting, never knowing when someone would get bored enough to start the chase. It always ended with me hurt. Always.

The familiar streetlights of my neighborhood came into view. My parents wouldn't save me if I was torn apart in the front yard. But I knew the rules. If I could get inside, that was a different story. No one, not even a dominant wolf like Teo, disrespected the beta’s home.

I whipped the car into a terrible parallel park, the bumper tapping the curb. The engine died. My hands trembled, fumbling for my keys on the dash. I dropped them twice on the floor mat before my fingers closed around the cold metal.

Just get inside.

I threw open the door and scrambled out. My legs were unsteady, barely holding my weight. The keys jangled in my grip as I stumbled toward the porch.

Almost there. Almost—

I stopped. The air hit me, thick with the smell of wet fur. And fury.

I spun around, keys clenched tight. My heart seized.

The wolf stood only a few feet away. His lips were curled back in a wet snarl. Saliva dripped from dagger-like fangs. The color of his coat gave him away: russet fur. Teo. He had always loved to torment me.

Teo just watched. I kept my back to the door, fumbling for the lock. I shoved the key in, turned it hard, and bolted inside.

Reprieve. I took the small win.

I locked the bolt, then leaned against the door, catching my breath. My gaze went to the cracked windshield of my car. Damn it. I had no idea how much the repair would cost. It would eat into the small savings I had worked so hard to gather.

"Alanza. Come here."

I flinched at the sound of my father's voice. I took a steadying breath, fixed my posture, and walked toward the living room. Worried butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

My father, the beta, was seated in his favorite leather armchair. He said nothing about the wolf outside. He didn't care. He knew exactly what the pack members did to me; as long as it didn’t happen where he had to see it, he stayed silent.

His expression was stoic. My mother stood behind him, her disapproval leveled right over my shoulder. I couldn’t recall the last time she had met my eyes without criticism.

I bowed my head as I entered, focusing on the mud still clinging to his boots.

I didn't offer a spoken greeting. All he wanted was a show of submission from the lowest ranking member of the pack. Words would only be a waste of his time.

I cradled my bruised wrist closer to my chest. Neither of them even blinked. They were blind to my injuries.

He cleared his throat. “You will be attending the Lunar Gala this year. I trust you have enough money from your… job to be properly dressed for the occasion. Be grateful the Alpha allowed you such a luxury.”

A sudden, sharp coldness blew through me, shoving the anxiety aside. What?

My heart stuttered, then hammered, then skipped a beat entirely. The Lunar Gala. I hadn’t been allowed to attend for the past two years.

The gala was huge. It brought together wolves from all over the Northwestern Territories. Unmated shifters would be there, hoping to find their fated partners.

The gala was technically a social event after the Northwestern Council met for pack politics. But it was really a giant matchmaking ball. High-ranking wolves mated into other packs, forming alliances and bringing in new blood.

It was strange for the Crystal Lake Pack to attend. Even Jimena, my perfect older sister, hadn’t been in a long time. Our pack usually avoided the event. The official reason was some bad blood between our Alpha and a few others, but I always doubted the other packs were the real problem.

Dad’s irritation at having to attend was a weight in the air. I risked a quick glance up. He was looking over my head, not at me. Like I was less than a speck of dust.

His nose wrinkled, as if I smelled bad. “Pascual and Jimena will be there, so make sure to present yourself without disgrace.”

That was it. He stood up. No more explanations. Just the beta giving an order and expecting it to be fulfilled. He walked past me, leaving the room.

I fought to keep my face blank, but inside, I was buzzing. The idea of leaving this house, even for one night, was exhilarating. The Lunar Gala felt like a chance to breathe outside this oppressive pack life. I knew better than to show my excitement.

My mother stepped forward then. Her voice made the hairs stand up on my arms. The back of my neck prickled from the force of her complete disregard.

“At least try not to act like a complete pariah, Alanza,” she said at last. It sounded like a difficult, boring effort just to speak to me.

I stared down at my shoes. A familiar ache hit me. I wanted to step closer, to be enveloped in the scent of jasmine and honey she wore. A memory of the mother who used to hold me.

“Of course,” I managed. My voice was tiny. “I’ll act appropriately.”

It was clear they were interested in Pascual and Jimena finding a mate. Not me. I had a sinking feeling my attendance was nothing more than a PR stunt.

Mom sighed, plastering a look of long-suffering patience on her elegant face. She raised a hand, as if to touch my shoulder, but stopped. Her hand hovered just above my skin. I could feel the warmth of her body, but that was all.

“Jimena will take you shopping. Do something with your hair. Get something nice. You have enough from that… coffeeshop, don't you?”

Of course. They wouldn't spend a single dollar on me.

“Yes, Mom.”

She grimaced. “Don't get something cheap. Remember you’re representing our family. And for my sake, try to avoid bruises where anyone can see them. You’ll make our pack look feral.”

She turned, then, a swish of expensive perfume and cold rejection.

Despite the usual emotional torture, my heart started to race with anticipation. Excitement. Fear.

The Lunar Gala. A rare escape from this suffocating world.

Maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of what life could be like outside the pack's iron grip. Maybe I’ll mate with someone and leave here. Maybe everything will change.

“Don't bother looking for a mate of your own, Alanza. You’ll only embarrass us.”